AboutDina Q Goldin, Ph.D. Expertise Information and advice for Acoustic Neuroma patients who would like honest patient-to-patient interaction about their symptoms or about treatments and related medical procedures. If you are unsure if your experience is "normal", or are wondering whether your information is complete, feel free to ask.
Experience I am an Acoustic Neuroma patient and the founding editor
of the Acoustic Neuroma Patient Archive (http://www.ANarchive.org).
Question Ringing started in left ear approx 1 mo ago, gradually getting louder. Hearing test showed mild hearing loss in same ear only. Feeling of fullness occasionally and sense of being off balance. Ear and facial pain occasionally. Also facial numbness x1. MRI was normal.
Answer It is possible that you have some kind of an infection on the left side. Other neurological problems are possible too, such as Meniere's disease. However, there is also a possibility that your MRI was not performed and/or read properly. You need to make sure that (a) constrasting agent Gadolinium was used for the MRI, (b) the MRI was analyzed by a neuroradiologist (and not just a regular radiologist). I recommend to see a neurologist. They can make sure that the MRI is done/read correctly, and will know how to diagnose your problems.
